Regulation

Firms offering unqualified IFAs 'lay advocate' roles post-RDR face a serious compliance headache, an investment consultant has warned.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will not be part of the government's planned National Crime Agency (NCA), according to reports, in a further setback for the new body.

Over half (57%) of IFAs will target protection sales as a source of new revenue post Retail Distribution Review (RDR), Aviva has found.

IFAs have called for debt management to be regulated on a par with advice, after a series of firm failures which they say damage the reputation of the wider financial services industry.

Suffolk Life's Claire Brooks offers advice on the areas of RDR still worrying advisers.

An overwhelming majority of IFAs have called for the right to be able to appeal Financial Ombudsman Services (FOS) decisions in the courts.

The FSA has signed an agreement to share confidential information with US state regulators, in a deal the Americans say may be at the forefront of a trend towards collaborative regulation.

The FSA has revealed almost one member of staff left per day on average over the last year, doubling the previous year's rate.

IFAs who referred clients to advisory service debtDr fear they could be targeted for compensation after the firm went bust last night with no details available about the whereabouts of client money.

Fund groups have recognised there are areas where they can offer help and expertise to ensure advisers meet the RDR deadline.